Why is my hair such a tangled mess (Natural)

[hairIAM]

I don't know what the problem is, but lately, I have been having terrible tangles in my hair. I try to finger comb and run into hair knots like crazy. I have never had this problem before. I started using grease on my actual hair and scalp. That is the only new thing that I have done. Could this be the problem? Does anyone else have tangling problems. Any solutions??

BTW--My hair is 4a-b Natural.

 

[Lucia]

Maybe you need moisture, misting, or conditioner washes, then you can seal just the ends with grease, but keep your scalp free of grease.

 

[mkstar826]

is your hair longer now? i noticed that the longer my hair got the more it started to tangled and get knots. even though i've cut off inches and trimmed a lot, it seems like my ends are still knot prone now. i think my problem is not keeping my ends moisturized enough. btw i recently started using grease on my hair & scalp w/ no problems...it's actually helped my scalp not get dry and my hair to retain moisture. it could be that but it might not be. try not using it for a while and see if that was the culprit.

 

[hairIAM]

My hair is now only about 3-4 inches stretched. I have lots of shrinkage though. Maybe I will give myself a small trim and baby my ends.

 

[dimpalz]

My hair's that long too. What's your regime? I think the problem is that you have more hair. I didn't have tangles when I had a twa cos there wasn't enough hair to get mixed up together.

Are you finger combing it dry? Cos there's no hope in help of detangling dry 4a/b hair and having some left. My suggestion is to get a good brush (I just moved on to a denman d3 from the d14) and a wide tooth comb and whilst your hair is FULL of conditioner run one of these through, don't try before or after the condtioner, that just makes the hair angry. I find that even when there's 3 million knots in dry hair, the water and conditioner help straighten them out even before I use the comb or brush

I used to COrinse/rinse everyday but it's cold here now - I'm guessin you don't have this problem - so now I only wash it on the weekends and daily I just remoisturise with some elasta qp recovery. After I wash it I put in in twists like my siggy and then all week wear the twistout, which of course shrinks by the day. BUT I don't try to detangle it every morning, I just rub the moisturiser into it and kinda fluff/rub it which makes it easier to manage.

I don't know how long you've been natural or how you got there (BC, trans etc) but I've heard other [long haired] naturals say that detangling is really an issue for straighter hair. As long as the tangles and knots aren't getting in the way of anything it's better to just leave them til wash day.

Anyway, update us on the situation, let us know how it's goin HHG

 

[Enchantmt]

I normally only get bad tangles if I need to clarify. Try an acv rinse followed by a moisturizing conditioner.

 

[cocomama]

This used to happen to me about a year ago. I think the problem is moisture,so try to put coconut oil on your ends at night before you go to bed. I also notice that if I put my hair in big twist before bed ,my ends didn't tangled so much. I hope that helps

 

[angelita842002]

Cowashing everyday or everyother day keeps the tangles away on my head. I agree with the rest of the girls your probably need a little more moisture.

 

[gn1g]

when I was natural and had that problem you need more MORE more moisture. drink more more H20 and use sunscreen on your hair to keep it from drying out.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Dimpalz, I love your hair!Can u tell me how u do bantu knots?

 

[saqqara]

Invest in a good detangler.

 

[Poohbear]

One of five things:
Splits and/or knots
Build up
Hard water
Dryness
Nature of natural hair

There are some splits that may not be very visible to the eye. One time, I examined a section of tangled hair and far away it looks fine but when I brought the strands in front of my face and closer to my eyes, I could see tiny holes in some of the strands. Those are splits and hair tangles with splits. I believe these splits is what causes knots as well.

Build up can also cause tangles. Build up from products can cause strands to stick or matt together. You may want to clarify.

Hard water is another thing that can cause tangles and many other problems with natural hair.

Dryness can cause tangles...or better yet, if your hair isn't properly moisturized or evenly moisturized, your hair will tangle, especially at the ends. So keep those ends moisturized and protected.

And it just may be the nature of your natural hair texture. Coily/spring very tight densely compacted natural hair tends to tangle, but if the strands are healthy, the tangles aren't necessarily a bad thing and can be easily untangled. Having splits and knots can be problematic.

Hope that helps!

 

[dimpalz]

Dimpalz, I love your hair!Can u tell me how u do bantu knots?

Why thank u! (nice to know the underdogs are appreciated lol)
I assume ur talking about my transitiony bantus, to do those;
-Wash (optional)
-Condition
-Towel Dry/Scrunch
-Break out the coconut (or any) oil and and put that on the damp hair - quarter sized amount for my head, get that new growth good too
- Part in to sections and start twirling them til they make bantus

I just twirl and twirl until the end slides under the bantu (if that makes sense) if the ends are too blunt to do that I use some of those bobby pins pushed thru the bantu. I made the sections about 2" sq. at the finer areas (nape, front) and 1/1.5" sq at the crown. If you make them smaller they'll dry faster but then they don't always look that good. I left them over night to dry, unravelled them in the morning and voila! I think in my fotki I've got flat 2 strand twists at the front I just bantued the ends of those after I twisted them too. Happy Hair Styling!


ETA: Hey hairIAM any news???

 

[FineChyna]

i'm having a lot of problems with tangles myself but i think its due to my hair length and not keeping problem areas moisturized and detangled enough.

last week was a nightmare washing my hair because it was so tangled. the middle part of my head is very dry and needs to have constant attention. so this week i have been making sure to moisturize every day (even if it is only a little bit of the product) and to run my fingers and sometimes the comb through the problem areas.

 

[babyblue]

what is your wash day routine and what specific products are u using? the cause of your tangles may lie in your routine. I doubt the grease is the culprit.

 

[Incredible1ne]

Dimpalz where can I find a Denman brush? I'm getting the tangles too but nothing massive. I thought I was in need of a good trim but the ends look fine to me.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

I am having this problem as well i deep conditioned last night 20 min under the dryer went to bed rinsed this morning and nothing but tangles and knots for days i am using the mebco shower comb that helps some but the knots and tagles are making me dream about a relaxer LOL

I wear braid outs twist outs and puffs those are the only styles i can do my self and i have every product under the sun at night i put a little olive oil and baggie

 

[scorpian]

you may want to try adding a cream rinse to your routine following your shampoo
Cream rinses are very inexpensive $2 or $3 and easy to use.you can run it through your hair after shampooing then rinse and then use your regular moisturizing conditioner.
Cream rinses are very light they don't seem to have much slip but it preps your hair so that your usual moisturizing cond will seem to work even better.less tangles more softness and moisture

 

[PaperClip]

Only thing I can suggest is a trim. This has eliminated the knots.... I got my first trim about four months post BC....I didn't get much trimmed at all...maybe a quarter of an inch. It made a world of difference.

 

[CurliDiva]

I got a ton of tangles during my last shampoo - when I washed with my hair loose instead in plaits!

I tried WGO for the first time - and feel in love with its detangling powers!

 

[CurliDiva]

I got a head full of tangle during my last wash by washing my hair loose vs in plaits.

I tried WGO for the first time - fell in love with its detangling powers!

 

[hairIAM]

My hair's that long too. What's your regime? I think the problem is that you have more hair. I didn't have tangles when I had a twa cos there wasn't enough hair to get mixed up together.

Are you finger combing it dry? Cos there's no hope in help of detangling dry 4a/b hair and having some left. My suggestion is to get a good brush (I just moved on to a denman d3 from the d14) and a wide tooth comb and whilst your hair is FULL of conditioner run one of these through, don't try before or after the condtioner, that just makes the hair angry. I find that even when there's 3 million knots in dry hair, the water and conditioner help straighten them out even before I use the comb or brush

I used to COrinse/rinse everyday but it's cold here now - I'm guessin you don't have this problem - so now I only wash it on the weekends and daily I just remoisturise with some elasta qp recovery. After I wash it I put in in twists like my siggy and then all week wear the twistout, which of course shrinks by the day. BUT I don't try to detangle it every morning, I just rub the moisturiser into it and kinda fluff/rub it which makes it easier to manage.

I don't know how long you've been natural or how you got there (BC, trans etc) but I've heard other [long haired] naturals say that detangling is really an issue for straighter hair. As long as the tangles and knots aren't getting in the way of anything it's better to just leave them til wash day.

Anyway, update us on the situation, let us know how it's goin HHG

Well I washed and conditioned my hair the other night and decided to detangle with a wide tooth comb. I lost a few hairs but the tangled knots are out. That was a job trying to detangle my hair. I wish my hair was as long as it is thick.

To answer your questions dimplaz, I have been natural for about 8 months now. I started out with about 1/4" of hair. I didn't transition, I just waited about 2 months after getting a perm, then just cut off my relaxed ends.

 

[hairIAM]

One of five things:
Splits and/or knots
Build up
Hard water
Dryness
Nature of natural hair

There are some splits that may not be very visible to the eye. One time, I examined a section of tangled hair and far away it looks fine but when I brought the strands in front of my face and closer to my eyes, I could see tiny holes in some of the strands. Those are splits and hair tangles with splits. I believe these splits is what causes knots as well.

Build up can also cause tangles. Build up from products can cause strands to stick or matt together. You may want to clarify.

Hard water is another thing that can cause tangles and many other problems with natural hair.

Dryness can cause tangles...or better yet, if your hair isn't properly moisturized or evenly moisturized, your hair will tangle, especially at the ends. So keep those ends moisturized and protected.

And it just may be the nature of your natural hair texture. Coily/spring very tight densely compacted natural hair tends to tangle, but if the strands are healthy, the tangles aren't necessarily a bad thing and can be easily untangled. Having splits and knots can be problematic.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for this useful info. I am always willing to take helpful hints from you, because you are definetely one of my hair idols. I will try to moisturize more often, trim my ends and do a ACV rinse.

 

[caligirl]

My hair is SO much easier to comb after washing with nexxus aloe rid. I shampoo once then deep condition with kenra MC under the dryer for 15 minutes. Then I make 7 sections on each side of my head and gently go thru each section with my k-cutter and braid the section up to dry. My hair is really manageable this way.